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Choosing where to have your engagement shoot in San Diego is a tough choice. This is mostly due to the fact that there are countless stunning places to take engagement photos in San Diego! :) If you want beach images, which of our numerous beaches did you have in mind? If you want an urban setting, are you thinking Gaslamp, Little Italy, or Liberty Station?
31 Places to Take Engagement Photos in San Diego
From sunny beaches to rustic trails to urban vibes downtown, San Diego has a lot to offer when it comes to killer engagement locations. With so many awesome locations, here are 31 of the best spots to take photos in San Diego for engagement shoots.
These also make wonderful locations for Fall Mini Sessions! I’m currently offering 3 dates for mini sessions in October and November, and spots are filling up fast! Learn more about these shoots and book your session here!
Balboa Park
From Spanish Colonial architecture to colorful buildings to flower-filled gardens, there are a variety of spots to take pictures here for your engagement. If you want a place iconic to San Diego, this is a great location.
As a wedding photographer, it’s no secret that I shoot here a lot. But, when it comes to diversity and close proximity to several other locations on this list, Balboa Park is considered one of the best places to photograph in San Diego.
San Diego Zoo
Located right next to Balboa Park is the zoo, and if you want to add more variety to your engagement shoot, consider doing both the zoo and park for your shoot! If you’re an animal lover, our world famous zoo won’t disappoint.
Little Italy
Little Italy is a charming neighborhood with so many unique walls and nooks to take fun San Diego engagement photos around! Plus, after the engagement session, it’s the perfect spot for some gelato or wine (or both!). :)
Santa Fe Depot
Doing a Santa Fe Depot engagement session may not be the most common of locations, but if you’re looking for those vintage vibes, this is an ideal spot. Plus, we’ll be in downtown San Diego, so we can hop on a couple of Birds and scooter around town to other locations!
Spruce Street Suspension Bridge
This hanging bridge was built in 1912, and if you have a fear of heights (and slightly questionable bridges) this may not be the best photo location for you. Below the suspension bridge, there’s a valley that also works for pictures!
La Jolla Cove
When it comes to photo spots in La Jolla, there are tons of options. One of the more iconic spots is the cove. You can take the stairs right down to the water, walk through some of the cave arches and have La Jolla Shores as your backdrop.
Windansea
If you’re down to potentially get a little wet from the ocean in your engagement session, this spot can be magical! This La Jolla location is typically less crowded than the cove, which I’m a major fan of. Also, there are rocks you can stand on with the waves crashing behind you, and this looks amazing during sunset!
UCSD
Another La Jolla favorite for me is UCSD! If you’re not familiar with the campus, there are SO many various locations to photograph here. There are several different architectural styles and nature spots throughout the campus, giving us a lot to work with. And if you’re a UCSD alum, this location may hold even more significance to you!
Scripps Pier
If we started your engagement session at UCSD and you also want beach images, consider Scripps Pier for sunset. While we can’t physically go on the pier, we can shoot below it on the beach. I personally love going slightly north of the pier and shooting with the massive cliff walls!
Torrey Pines Nature Reserve
With numerous rustic trails to wander on, we can start by taking images at the top of the coastline and end down by the water (as long as you’re up for a little hike!). On a clear day, Torrey Pines probably has one of the prettiest views of La Jolla!
Belmont Park
If you’re looking to add a fun twist to your engagement shoot, Belmont Park is a perfect place to go! From the coaster to the carousel to carnival games, this colorful location is a great spot for some unique and playful pictures.
Crystal Pier
Just north of Belmont Park is Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach. This pier is unique for having little cottages actually on the pier that you can rent out! Take pictures on top of the pier to get a beautiful view of the coastline in the background, or go underneath the pier for some fun and romantic images with the waves crashing!
Mt Soledad
Mt Soledad, which is well-known for having a cross at the top of it, is another location to venture to for engagement photos. When you’re at the top, you have a 360-degree view of the city.
Cabrillo National Monument
Located on the tip of Point Loma, Cabrillo is a breathtaking location with an old, charming lighthouse as one of its main features. You can take a short walk down to the tidepools as well, where there’s sand and some cliffs that work well for engagement photos!
Liberty Station
Liberty Station has really developed out in the last few years, though it still has rustic vibes left in some areas. The yellow buildings and long arches that line the hallways provide a different look than the typical sandy beaches or urban downtown settings that you’ll see throughout most of San Diego.
Sunset Cliffs
If you want another epic cliff + ocean spot like Torrey Pines, I highly recommend Sunset Cliffs. Spanning from Ocean Beach to Point Loma is Sunset Cliffs, which is a beautiful place for engagement photos.
Between the expansive cliffs, the crashing waves, and the salty sea air, Sunset Cliffs makes you feel as if you’re taking pictures at a remote location.
Coronado
I could probably write an entire post on different engagement location spots just in Coronado! From Centennial Park to Hotel Del to the town, there are numerous unique spots to stop and take pictures! If you’re going for iconic, this is the place to be.
Marian Bear Park
If you want a more naturesque feel to your engagement pictures, Marian Bear Park is a great spot! It includes easy nature trails to walk on and trees all around!
Tip: If you’re planning your engagement session for the fall and want some color-changing leaves, Marian Bear Park is probably one of the best places to take pictures in San Diego!
Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve
As an alternative to Marian Bear Park, Los Penasquitos is a bit more open-air with its walking trails. There are still plenty of walking paths that will lead you in and out of the trees if you want a more “foresty” look to your engagement images! Plus, this is probably one of the few places in San Diego you have a chance of seeing a waterfall!
University of San Diego
Seeing that I spent my college years here, I’m partial to this location! Similar to the Spanish architecture that can be found at Balboa Park or Presidio Park, USD is an absolutely gorgeous campus. Between the fountains, flower gardens, and iconic Immaculata building, I’m in awe every time I step on campus.
Presidio Park
Just a few minutes away from USD is Presidio Park which has some great views of San Diego. There’s a good mix of Spanish architecture, tall trees, and secluded areas that all make for great backgrounds. The park is mostly located on a hill, so be prepared to do some walking during the engagement shoot!
Old Town
Old Town in San Diego is known for its historic buildings, colorful heritage, and of course, Taco Tuesdays! It’s a fun place for engagements because the streets are filled with vibrant colors and textures that you don’t see elsewhere in the city.
Carlsbad Flower Fields
If you’re wanting engagement photos between March and May, the Flower Fields in Carlsbad are a colorful and vibrant option! Because the flowers are only in bloom for 6-8 weeks, crowds can tend to be pretty heavy, especially on weekends. Try to plan for a weekday engagement session if you want to take images here!
Seaport Village
Located right next to the Gaslamp in San Diego, Seaport Village is a cute and quaint area that is a great spot for engagement pictures. You can walk through the village and into different shops, stop for ice cream, and gaze out towards Coronado.
Gaslamp
This urban location is an iconic spot for an engagement session in the heart of downtown San Diego. From swanky bars to graffiti art walls, there are tons of spots for awesome photos here – and don’t forget about the iconic Gaslamp District sign!
If you’re planning to wear a formal dress and stilettos during the engagement session, downtown is the place to be!
San Diego Bay Boating
Why stay on land when you can experience San Diego on the water?! If you’re into boating or just like adventures, consider doing your engagement session on a sailboat, yacht, or even a larger boat like the Hornblower!
Orfila Winery
One of my couples introduced me to this winery and I’ve fallen in love with it! Their vineyards are pretty wide, making it easy for couples to walk through together.
Orfila also has a barrel room that they allow you to go into for images, which adds to the overall look and feel of a winery engagement session!
Bernardo Winery
Located in my neck of the woods, Bernardo Winery includes old wooden buildings, cute shops, vineyards, and of course, wine to sip on! This place has a country feel to it, and when they turn on their market lights in the evening, it makes for a beautiful backdrop!
Mission Trails
Tall, yellow grass glistening during golden hour is what comes to mind when I think of Mission Trails. This place becomes magical as the sun begins to set and is perfect for a rustic-themed engagement session.
Del Mar Fair
While the San Diego Del Mar Fair is not around all year, if you’re planning to take engagement photos in June, the fair is a way to get some different and fun pictures! Plus, if you’re a fan of deep-fried everything, this is the spot for you!
Ocotillo Sand Dunes
This one might be a little far out, but I felt like it was worth adding to the list (plus, I REALLY want to shoot an engagement session here – hint, hint!). :)
The drive is a few hours east of San Diego, but once you get there, it’s basically sand dunes for days. If you’re wanting to take engagement photos somewhere other than the standard SD locations, this is a great place to consider!
Final Thoughts
As part of your planning process as an engaged couple, take some time to determine where you might want to shoot for your San Diego engagement session! If you’re still not sure on the best location, reach out to me and I can help plan where we can shoot together! :)
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